Created Equal

This week might be remembered as one of the most extraordinary in the history of this country. Revelations of and about an old symbol that reminded us of a time long ago when slavery and oppression were the norm, but now, will no longer be tolerated. With the removal of the stars & bars from so many statehouse’s across the South is the recognition that any reminder, no matter how relabeled, rebranded is still a reminder. A reminder that is unnecessary, unproductive, and only serves as a reminder that needs to relegated to history. And as if not to be outdone, the Supreme Court finally made a determination that enforces those words that are held so secreted in our constitution; that we are all created equal. Not only in color, race and creed, but in love and compassion and the need to be part of a family, no matter how composed.

No doubt the controversy will continue and, of course, there will never be total agreement but finally we again recognize that the very essence of the constitution was to protect each and every citizen against an over dominant government that would suppress any of a citizens rights to be free. Free in thought, expression, action, feeling and now, free in commitment to the person they love, no matter their race, color, creed or sex.

All too often we have forgotten many of those guarantee’s and instead have sought to enforce upon others our own limited and narrow points of view. Rather than celebrate our diversity we have tried to make everyone part of one giant, vanilla, culture that is as boring and tiresome as it could be. We have failed to understand and appreciate those subtle and not so subtle differences that makes us unique. And in being unique we bring enlightenment and creativity in thought and idea; elements that will cause the creative to be more creative and open eyes that may have long since been closed.

Perhaps the new phrase need now be “so all persons may be created equal” because that is exactly what the court has ruled. How will the success be measured? Certainly by one couple at a time with all the happiness, sadness, marriage, divorce, fights over custody and so many other things, but most important of all will be the right to live those lives, experience those feelings and know them all.

While I personally couldn’t care less who marries whom, I am glad to live in a country that continues to try to live up to it’s greatest promise to it’s citizens; the constitution. I hope the debate will continue on the so many other issues that are in conflict since this is exactly what the framers wanted; freedom of thought, idea, expression and so much more. I grieve for those that live in countries that don’t grant those promises and can only hope for each of them to be allowed to read those sacred words of Emma Lazarus, emblazed at the ladies feet ….

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”